4 Great Reasons to Get Cozy With Bedtime Yoga

A good night’s sleep is within reach when you opt for peace of mind through a nightly bedtime yoga practice.

Better sleep has been shown to offer a myriad of benefits, including improved immunity, clearer thinking and memory, better mood and sex life, and reduced weight.

So why not give bedtime yoga a try? Here are 4 yoga can help you fall asleep faster and get quality sleep every night:

Surrender

A good night’s sleep is within reach with a bedtime yoga practice.

Allowing yourself to release completely assists with letting go of racing thoughts to clear your mind for sleep. Poses like Savasana (corpse pose) that are totally passive remind you that you are capable of surrender. Simply lying on your back, releasing a sigh and letting go right before bedtime can feel like total bliss.

Unwind Your Mind

Restorative poses soothe a busy mind. Viparita Karani (legs-up-the-wall) helps by relieving fatigue in the legs and feet and increasing blood supply to the brain. Also, yoga’s focus on the breath is a useful tool in reducing the mental chatter that can plague the mind and stave off sleep.

Reduce the Effects of Stress

We hear a lot about the sympathetic nervous system increasing the stress hormone cortisol. This is our “fight or flight” response. There are several poses that help release stress. Forward bending poses like Hastapadasana (seated forward fold) and Balasana (child’s pose) assist in activating the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing cortisol and increasing relaxation.

A calming bedtime yoga routine can help you to unwind and signal your brain that it’s time to rest.

Ease Physical Discomfort

Stiff joints or an achy back can keep anyone up at night. Bedtime yoga can be especially helpful here.

Research has shown that establishing a calming bedtime yoga routine can help you to unwind and signal your brain that it’s time to rest at the end of the day. By incorporating yoga with meditation, herbal teas, or yogic breathing into your bedtime routine, you can reap the benefits of the deep, restful sleep.